Extension table



M. WURM EXTENSION TABLE Dec. 26, 1933.

Filed May 24, 1933 "mm H; 1/:

" miiiiim INVENTOR ATTORNE 'Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates in general to extension tables and has particular reference to that type of table in which a filler lea its own plane in order that into position of service with f may be turned in it may be adjusted movable top members or sections, or into position of storage beneath the same. This appli cation is in part a continuation of my U. S. Patent No. 1,915,347,

dated June 27, 1933.

An important feature of my present improvements is that when the filler leaf is turned so that its long axis is at right-angles to the direction of movement of the top member s, the leaf may then be raised from the plane below said top members into the common plane therewith, by the inward movement of said top members toward each other, and may be lowered plane by the reverse or out m members. utilize the slides, by employing spacing same and the connected top members and from said common ovement of said top Another important feature is that I ordinary or commercial table-top means between the thereby provide between the upper side of the slides and the underside of the top space in which the filler leaf members a suitable may be stored and in which space the leaf may be turned or oscillated on its vertical axis. Another important feature is that the traveling cams or inclined members whose lifting and lowering ac by the inward tions are controlled and outward horizontal movements of the top members, may be mounted upon different parts of the mechanism, instead upon particular part of the same. There are other novel features residing in my present improvements which will be referred to in the detailed description hereinafter given the drawing herein.

I have illustrated a form in, connection with of my invention in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1, shows a top plan view of an extension table embodying my improvements, with the top members opened outwardly to their full extent and the filler leaf disposed below the plane thereof in position of storage and in which position it may be turned in its own plane a quarter of a circle to bring it in position to be lifted by the mward movement of the top members.

Figure 2, shows the same with the filler leaf arrow thereon and about hal view as Fig. 1, but turned in the direction of the f-way over its path of angular movement, to bring it into the position shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 3, shows a top plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the outer ends of the respective top member s broken away, and

with the filler leaf turned with its long axis at right angles to the direction of movement of the top members and ready to be liftedwhen the top members are pushed by the cams, against the edges of the filler leaf in their inward movements 00 indicated by the adjacent arrows.

Figure 4, shows an enlarged detail view .of a

vertical cross-section of a portion of the table,

with a cam or inclined member engaging the long edge of the filler leaf to raise it, when the top member is pushed inwardly.

Figure 5, shows an enlarged view of a central,

vertical longitudinal section of the table, with the filler leaf in position of service with the two top members, the outer ends of which are broken away, likewise portions of the guides and slides.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout, 1 and 2, indicate two horizont top members or sections of the table and each is usual fixed apron 3, dependthe outside edges thereof. A

provided with the ing therefrom near ally movable stretcher or bridge 4, which extends horizontally across the center of the table in fixed position,

carries at its respective ends, fixed guides 5 and 6, extending longitudinally of the the direction in which the top members moved toward and away from each structure in are other. Thetop member 1, is provided with a pair of horizontal slides 7 and 8, the former being mounted to of guide 5, and the latter slide upon the outside upon the outside of guide 6, and the top member 2, is similarly provided with a pair of slides 9 and 10, the former being mounted to slide upon the inner side of guide 5, and the latter upon the inner side of guide 6, said guides and slides being provided with ordinary equalizing gearing in the way of racks 11, and cooperating gear-wheels 12.

The guides and slides are of the ordinary commercial type and I utilize the same in my improvements, by employing spacing means between the upper side of the respective top members, storage space for the turnable filler in which space, indicated at 18, the turned or oscillated in its own plane.

faces thereof and the under to provide a leaf 17, and leaf may be The spacing means comprises spacing pieces 13 and 14, fixed between the slides 7 and 8, and top member,

and spacing pieces 15 and 16, fixed slides 9 and 10, and top member 2, and

pieces are of a thickness equal at between the these least to the thickness of the filler leaf in order to provide the space 18, in which the leaf may be freely turned, while in its lowered position, from such angular position when its long axis is para llel with the direction of movement of the top members, into the angular position with its long axis disposed at right-angles to such direction, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. An important advantage of this arrangement is that the filler leaf may be turned in its own plane from one angular position to the other and thereby be placed in position to be acted upon by the lifting means which is controlled by the inward and outward movements of the top members, so that the inward movements thereof serve to lift the leaf into the plane thereof, while the reverse movements thereof serve to drop the leaf below such plane.

The filler leaf 17, is provided upon its under side at its central point where its long and short axes cross each other, with a boss or socket part or block 20, having a vertical socket 21, for loosely receiving the stud or pin 22, which projects upwardly from the center of the bridge 4. This stud passes through the bridge and is fixed to a plate 23, which is secured to the underside of the bridge by means of screws 24. This rotary mounting means of the filler leaf supports it when at its lowered level and while it is being turned angularly through its ninety degrees of oscillatory movement on the stud and while in the plane of the spacing pieces.

The filler leaf 1'7, is raised and lowered by means of the horizontal movements of the top members as they are moved inwardly towards each other and then outwardly away from each other, after the leaf has been given a quarter turn from its stored position and its long axis lies at right angles to the line of movement of the top members, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The lifting and lowering means of the filler leaf comprises a pair of inclined members or cams 25 and 26, connected with top member 1, and a pair of cams 27 and 28, connected with top member 2. Each cam is fixed in relation to its top member and moves in response to the inward and outward movements thereof. The cams are arranged below the top members and project inwardly from the inner edges thereof and slope downwardly and inwardly towards the center of the table, so as to take under the opposite long edges of the filler leaf when it is turned into position to be raised, as will be understood from Figs.

3 and 4, wherein the wedging action of the cams under the leaf is shown as coming into play when the top members are pushed inwardly towards the leaf. The continued inward movement of the top members moves each cam completely under the leaf and then brings the ledge or shelf 29, of the cams under the leaf, and finally the inner edges of the top members into abutting engagement with the leaf now in the common plane therewith. When thus positioned in service the leaf is supported on the flat ledges 29, and made stable for use.

When the filler leaf is to be removed from its position of service, shown in Fig. 5, this is accomplished by the reverse movements of the top members in the outward direction, thereby withdrawing the cams from beneath the leaf and letting it gravitate down to the plane below the top members, so that it may be given a backward turn of a quarter circle to place it in position for storage between the innermost slides 9 and 10,-

and in the plane of the spacing pieces. The top members are then slid towards each other to close them over the filler leaf in stored position, with the table unextended.

The inclined members or cams 25, 26, and 27, 28, may all be mounted on the top members directly, or all on the aprons, or all on the slides, or some on one of said parts and some on another, which latter arrangement I have herewith shown. These cams may be made of wood or metal, as preferred, and when located near the edges of the leaf, as here shown, they give a smooth and balanced action in lifting and lowering the leaf, as they are a considerable distance from the pivotal center of the leaf. In the present construction, one camof each pair is secured to the apron 3, such cams being 25 and 28, so that full clearance is given the leaf in its turning movements, as will be understood from Fig. 2. The other two cams 26 and 27, are secured respectively to the upper sides of slides 8 and 9, and in such locations they also give clearance to the leaf in its swinging movements.

By virtue of my construction and arrangement of the various parts of the mechanism, the top members or sections do not have to be moved apart to such an extent as to fully uncover the subjacent filler leaf, as shown in Fig. 1, at 19, so that the leaf may be turned before it is fully uncovered, as indicated in Fig. 2. This shortens the range of movement of thetop members and also permits of the use of shorter guides and slides, thereby reducing the weight and cost of the material used in the structure.

The downwardly and inwardly sloping cams acting under the opposite long edges of the filler leaf in response to the horizontal movements of the top members, serve as a forcible and effective means for raising the leaf and also in lowering it, the cams upon one side of the leaf coacting mutually with those upon the opposite side.

I wish to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific constructions herein shown and described, as it is evident that the same may be modified, without however departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An extension table having main top members provided with slides and movable inwardly and outwardly with respectto each other so as to cooperate with an adjustable filler leaf, each slide carried by the top members extending inwardly to underlie the same at all times, a space within which said filler leaf lies in its lowest position, means carried by said slides for spacing said top members above the level of said slides, a filler leaf mounted to turn on a vertical axis and adapted to be raised and lowered tobring it into and out of the common plane with said top members, said filler leaf when in its lowered position being disposed with its long-axis substantially parallel with said spacing means and constructed and arranged so that it may be turned in the plane of said spacing means and means intermediate said top members and filler leaf causing the simultaneous inward movement of the top members to raise it and the simultaneous outward movement of the top members to lower it.

2. An extension table having horizontally movable top members provided with suitable slides, a vertically adjustable filler leaf movable into and below the plane of said top members, and

inclined members reciprocated horizontally by the movements of said top members for controlling the lifting and lowering of said filler leaf, said filler leaf being also mounted for turning movement on a vertical axis to bring it into and out of angular position for engagement by said clined members one of which is mounted on one of the slides of the top member near one edge and the other is mounted on said top member.

near the opposite edge, and a vertically adjustable filler leaf adapted to be turned in its own plane and movable vertically into and below the plane of said top members when said filler leaf is positioned with its long-axis transverse the direction of horizontal movement of said top members and when in such position being engageable by said inclined members for lifting and lowering said filler leaf.

4. An extension table having horizontally movable top members adapted to be moved toward and away from each'other, a vertically adjustable filler leaf movable into and below the plane of said top members, inclined members or cams connected with said top members and moving in response to the inward and outward movements thereof and disposed in the plane below said top members, the low points of said cams serving to engage directly the edges of said filler leaf when in the plane below said top members and said cams acting to lift said leaf into the plane of said top members when they are moved inwardly toward each other and acting to lower said leaf when the top members are moved outwardly.

5. An extension table having horizontaly movable top members adapted to be moved toward and away from each other. a vertically adjustable filler leaf movable into and below the plane of said top members, inclined members or cams connected with said top members and moving in response to the inward and outward movements thereof and disposed in the plane below said top members, the low points of said cams serving to engage said filler leaf when in the plane below said top members and said cams acting to lift said filler leaf into the plane of said top members when they are moved inwardly toward each other and acting to lower said leaf when the top members are moved outwardly, said filler leaf being mounted to turn in its own plane when lowered.

6. An extension table having oppositely arranged top members movable toward and away from each other in the horizontal and having inwardly and downwardly sloping cams projecting inwardly beyond their inner meeting edges and below the level thereof, and a filler leaf vertically adjustable to move it into and below the plane of said topmembers and constructed and arranged so that when disposed in the plane below said top members and with its long-axis parallel with the inner meeting edges of said members, the movement of said members toward each other will cause the cams to act upon said leaf in opposite directions and raise it into the plane of said members, and the reverse movement of said members will cause the cams to recede and lower the leaf into the plane below said members.

-7. An extension table having oppositely arranged horizontally movable top members, a filler leaf mounted to turn in its own plane and vertically adjustable with respect to said top members, and lifting members or cams disposed below the plane of said top members and projecting inwardly from the inner edges thereof and moving in response to the movements thereof, said members or cams being adapted to engage the opposite side edges of said filler leaf when it is turned into service position and acting to raise or lower the filler leaf by the inward or outward movements of said top members.

8. An extension table having oppositely arranged horizontally movable top members, a filler leaf mounted to turn in its own plane and vertically adjustable with respect to the plane of said top members, lifting members or cams disposed below the plane of said top members and extending inwardly from the inner edges thereof and moving in response to the movements thereof, said members or cams being provided with flat ledges for the filler-leaf to rest upon when in service position, said members or cams being adapted to engage the opposite 'side edges of said filler leaf when it is turned into service position and acting to raise or lower the filler leaf by the inward or outward movement of said top members.

9. In an extension table, top members movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to each other, a cooperating filler leaf adjustable vertically into and below the common plane of said top members and mounted to be turned in its own plane when below the common plane to bring it into position to be raised and lowered, and fillerleaf raising-and-lowering means controlled by the movements of said top members and serving by the simultaneous inward movement of the top members to act upon and raise the filler leaf into the common plane and by thesimultaneous outward movement of the top members to act upon and lower the filler leaf below the common plane.

10. In an extension table, top members movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to eachother, a cooperating filler leaf adjustable verti cally into and below the common plane of said top members and mounted to be turned in its own plane when below the common plane to bring it into position to be raised and lowered, and filler leaf raising-and-lowering means actuated by the movements of said top members and engaging said filler leaf when it is turned with its long axis normal to the direction of movement of said top members and acting then to raise it into the common plane when the top members are moved inwardly and acting also to lower it below the common plane when the top members are moved outwardly so that it may be turned to bring its long axis parallel with the direction of movement of the top members and into stored position.

11. In an extension table, horizontally movable table top members connected for simultaneous opposite movement, a cooperating filler leaf vertically adjustable into and below the plane of the table top members and rotatably mounted to be turned in its own plane when below the common plane to position it for vertical movement, means moved into operative action by inward movement of the table top sections and acting upon and imparting a raising motion to said filler leaf, the outward movement of said table top sections moving said means into action upon and lowering said filler leaf.

12. In an extension table, horizontally movable table top members connected for simultaneous opposite movement, a cooperating filler leaf vertically adjustable into and below the plane of the table top members and rotatably mounted to be turned in its own plane when below the common plane to position it for vertical movement, means moved in towards said filler leaf by inward movement of the table top sections, the said means on inward movement acting upon and imparting a raising motion to said filler leaf, outward movement of said table top sections moving said means outwardly, the said means acting upon and lowering the filler leaf.

13. In an extension table, horizontally movable table top members connected for simultaneous opposite movement, a cooperating filler leaf adjustable vertically into and below the plane of the table top members and rotatably mounted to be turned in its own plane when below the common plane to position it for vertical movement, means moved in towards said filler leaf by inward movement of the table top sections, the said means on inward movement acting upon and imparting a raising motion to said filler leaf when it is positioned with its long axis at right-angles to the direction of movement of said table top sections, outward movement of said table top sections moving said means outwardly, the said means acting upon and lowering the filler leaf.

14. In an extension table, horizontally oppositely movable table top members, a cooperating filler leaf rotatably mounted to turn in its own plane and vertically adjustable into and below the plane of said table top members, means moved towards said filler leaf by inward movement of the table top sections, the said means on such movement acting upon and imparting a raising motion to said filler leaf when it is positioned with its long axis at right-angles to the direction of movement of said table top sections, outward movement of said table top sections moving said means away from said filler leaf, the said means acting upon and lowering the filler leaf.

15. In an extension table, horizontally oppositely movable table top members, a cooperating filler leaf rotatably mounted to turn in its own plane and vertically adjustable into and below the plane of said table top members, means moved into operative action by inward movement of the table top sections, the said means on such movement acting upon and imparting a raising motion to said filler leaf when it is positioned with its long axis at right-angles to the direction of move ment of said table top sections, outward movement of said table top sections moving said means into action upon and lowering said filler leaf.

IVIAX WURM. 

